Dave Grohl, Eddie Vedder set for Nick Drake tribute

Nick Drake - Grohl and Vedder to star on tribute album
Nick Drake - Grohl and Vedder to star on tribute album

An upcoming tribute album to the late English singer-songwriter Nick Drake will feature cover versions performed by Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Norah Jones and Jack Johnson.

Billboard originally reported a DVD version of the album would also feature a 2007 video of Drake's song Black Eyed Dog made by the late actor Heath Ledger. The black-and-white clip consists mainly of footage of Ledger, according to those who have seen it, and concludes with the actor 'drowning himself' in a bathtub.

Just prior to his own death, Ledger said he hoped to make a biopic of Drake's life. "I was obsessed with his story and his music and I pursued it for a while and still have hopes to kind of tell his story one day," he said.

Drake died from an accidental overdose of prescription anti-depressants in 1974. Ledger died from a reported accidental "toxic combination of prescription drugs" in January 2008.

"Incorrect statement"

Publisher EverGreen has now made clear that a DVD package won't include Heath Ledger's video. EverGreen's co-CEO Richard W Perna expressed "regret" over the making of the "incorrect" statement about the inclusion of Ledger's video. "We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or embarrassment caused to Mr Ledger's estate, Nick Drake's estate, Brushfire Records, or anyone else involved with the tribute album," said Perna in a statement.

Nick Drake was relatively unacclaimed in his lifetime, but his popularity later soared with his influence cited by John Martyn, REM, Elliott Smith, Paul Weller, Robert Smith, Kate Bush and numerous others.

There is no film in existence of Nick Drake performing.